Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this column are those of the participants and the moderator, and do not neccessarily reflect those of the GIA. There is coarse language and potentially offensive material afoot. Toasty ripped your flesh. Don't say that I didn't warn you.

This is a Monday; I am exempt from having to come up with a clever little introductory paragraph.

In a way, I think that we've been jaded by our experiences as RPG fans during a time when RPGs simply weren't all that popular. Only a few years ago, we'd mainly see the major games get a Western release, such as Final Fantasy or Chrono Trigger, and that was about it for the next few months. On one hand, we were missing out on a lot of the excellent titles that hit the shelves in Japan. On the other hand, we were forced to squeeze every last ounce of enjoyment out of the games that did manage to make their way to North America.

RPGs still aren't as popular as some other genres, such as fighting and sports games, but they are more prevalent over here now than they have ever been in the past. RPGs will make money, and publishers have begun to realize that. So, naturally, the subsequent result is a more substantial number of releases for games of the genre. And now, gamers are going to have to make some choices.

The fact is, unless you've got some cash to burn and more freetime on your hands than a prison inmate, you're not going to be able to play them all. Sports fans don't buy every game in their favorite genre; they choose between the Maddens and GameDays. And show me the fighting fan who owns every game of the genre released in recent months.

We can't expect that publishers are going to moderate their release schedule based upon the games coming out from their competitors; each publisher is looking to get a piece of the pie. So, make informed decisions. Read about an RPG before you go ahead and buy it to be certain that you wouldn't have enjoyed another recently released RPG more. While it could be taken as a source of frustration that so many RPGs are being released in a limited amount of time, it also means that there will be a better chance of finding one that's suited to your tastes.

I certainly wouldn't mind being to keep all 4 discs from FFVIII in my PS2 at once, especially if the controller served as a remote with which I could change discs from my seat. Unfortunately, the added costs would outweight the potential benefits. Especially when you consider how expensive the PS2 is slated to be as it is.

However, you have incorrectly guessed what the "P" in "Ian P." stands for. I'm sure you felt that your sarcastic comment would be taken as merely a joke, but that's where you're wrong. I suspect that you will soon be forced to do battle with an automaton villain while trapped within the confines of a large room. And you without your Bubble Lead.

Well, Ian, what say you?

It's about time somebody did that, too. I don't understand why no console manufacturer has thought of it before; I certainly have, and I'd wager that many of you have, too. You've already got a controller in your hands; how much extra would it cost to stick a power button on the damned thing?

I have to admit that I find the standing on end thing wholey idiotic, as well. For one thing, the second you eject the disc, it will flop right out of the tray. And, honestly, every entertainment center that I've ever seen has been designed for the devices within to be lying flat, not protruding upwards. And the fact that it could be positioned both ways has lead to a flinky little twirling PSX logo being tacked onto the disc tray. But hey, the design of the console isn't important. It's the games that will matter.

As for the direction which gaming consoles are headed in, I could make an entire column about that facet alone. In fact, I do believe that I have. I couldn't possibly cover all of the potential bases with a single reply.

Damn those people who have prematurely passed Chrono Cross despite the fact that they've not even played a minute of it. They've got some nerve to insult a game that will obviously be the greatest thing since sliced bread without first giving it a proper trial. I mean, Chrono Cross may not even be in beta form, but it's already obvious that it is without any fault; the digitized embodiment of everything that is right with gaming.

Yes, damn those people and their hasty judgement.

Have you ever actually tried going completely without a pair of underwear? As any college student who's ever been too busy to get around to the wash can tell you, it's not a pretty sight. Sure, boxers lack support, but they provide the little mini-me's with an added layer of protection from their harsh surroundings. Namely from their arch enemy, the zipper.

As for briefs, well, it's like my grandfather always says: "Briefs are like a cheap hotel; no ballroom." And yes, my grandfather really does say that. He's quite a character, he is.

Closing Comments

Okay, I may as well make tomorrow's topic something which people have been writing to me about anyhow. We all know that Chrono Cross is going to have over 40 characters. That's a pretty major feat to pull off successfully; it could be argued that no game has done it truly correctly to date. Sure, Suikoden was a well enough game, but you never really cared for most of the characters, save a select few. So, I'd like to hear the manner in which you feel that Square could successfully include over 40 playable characters into Chrono Cross. Go on then.

-Drew Cosner